The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-16
COY'SMACHINE WORKS WELL
The Democratic City Convention Carries
Out His Plans Without Hitch.
Coy's 0dous Gang Figure Prominently and
Have Everything Their Own Way-Eden-
harter and Shields Nominated

nave LVerFbnIuS 1HelT UWH NtJ-EUen-
harter and Shields Nominated.
1t required just thirty minutes. last night. for
the socalled Democratic city convention to listen
to a speech by John w. Kern and to ratfy the
nomir atons for Mayor and clerk made by Sim
Coy and his executive committee. The power
OF the delegates to nominate was taken from
them with an effrontsry equaled only By that
which characterized the tally-sheet frauds last
fall. If there was any delegate with an opinion
contrary to that of the little boss he submitted
to the collar of Coy, and allowed himself to be
led without the semblance Of a protest to in
dorse all that was said and done. When the
Union Labor party nominated a ticket, to con-
troll which the boss thought he had perfected ar
rangements Coy and his henchmen had q dis
sension in their party to put down. His failure
to disturb the Union Labor people impressed
many of the Democratic leaders who would pre-
fer less Coyism and more free will in their nomi-
nations, that it would be advisable to make no
nominations until later in the year This meant
the defeat of Edenharter. whose pretensions
the workincman's friend and member OF the
Knights of Labor organization being
posed by the decided opposition of the Union
Labor people. By what truce the hostility
between Coy and Edenharter was lessened isnot
known, but it is a fact that six months ago
they were ready to destroy each others politi-
cal and personal purposes. But whatever
may be the articles of peace, it is certain that
| Edenharter surrendered whatever he had to
secure the good will of Coy. Since then Coy
has been putting all his energies to work in be-
| half of the ambitious doctor. This was, per-
| haps. on account of Edenharters posing for SO
| many years as knight of Labor. and the sup
! position that he could control the labor vote.
| For Michael F. Shields, another Democrat and
| Knight Of Labor afte-ward, Coy has also been
| pushing the united forces of his gang. Hence,
| when there was disposition to defeat both by
| delaying the nomination. Coy said there should
| be no postponement of the alleged convention,
| and there was not
| Long before o'clock, when the alleged con-
! yention was called to order the hall was filled
| with the persons who have visited participated
| in and controlled local Democratic meetings
! since Sim Coy became the boss. The delegates,
| Of whom there were over four hundred, IN
! creased the crowd to about eight hundred, with
| John E. Sullivan and Sim Coy alone on the
| stage to shed the influence Of bossism over the
| assembling Everything had been arranged to
nicely. and they could wait in patience to put
| the scheme of controlling nominations, without
| fear of a disse Eting voice in operation.
| Among the delegates could be seen Albert
| Ayres, who prohted for awhile in the tally
! frauds; Sterling Holt, who chopped the ballot
| box to pieces; Goose" Eden, who stood at the
courthouse door The day after the election last
fall. and directed incoming Judges OF election
/ to carry their papers to Sim Coy's room; Albert
| Sahm, the County Commissioner, who used his
Office in appointing the election inspectors, who
permitted, without protest, the counting OF
| the fraudulent tally sheets; VIM. T.. A Bern
hamer who presided over that canvassing board
with the tyranny of serf raised to rower and
down the list But there were few
Democrats of higher political standing and yet
| they too. assumed the Coy yoke.
John E. Sullivan raped for order, while Coy
| stood little to the right. giving commands
where the delegates should sit. 1t was done
something after this style: "The First ward will
set right hero to my right, and the Second ward
right behind them" In this rotation the twenty
FIVE DELEGATIONS were measured off. When R. 0.
johnson was ready to act as secretary. Sullivan
nominate candidates for Mayor and city
clerk. The first thing in order is
the selection OF permanent chairman
II had been arranged that John w. Kern should
preside, and some delegate of the lower rank in
party councils moved that that gentleman / Q
the chairman. Sullivan paid no attention to
iiul, and another delegate timidly suggested
| Kern. He too, was not the right man to give
! the official PRONUNCIATION of the gangs decision.
| Albert Ayres, in the rear of the hail. at this
| juncture arose. and Sullivan quickly recognizip &
iaim as Judge Ayres." the nomination of Kern
| AS permanent chairman was made and carried.
| When Mr.. Kern came to the stage Sullivan
| remarked, You need Introduction to this
| gentleman. You all know him a Democrat"
| There was hurran, and the delegates became
| u net to hear what the chairman had to say. He
| appreciated the honor Of being chairman &C.
| c. unit of the character and intelligence of the
delegates He congratulated them on the
suspicious opening of the campaign. and over
| til fact that they were SO harmonious. as not q
81 ngle contest had occurred over the election OF
til g night before that sent more than 400 of them
to represent 10, 600 solid, good unfnching Dem
| oc rats. The convention, he was glad
to see, made up OF representatives Of every
| honorable calling, Of men who earned their
bi cad by the sweat or their brow. He proceeded
ia tell how Democracy had been founded by the
| III an who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
1t was party for all time, and on that always
ke pt step to the music of progress. 1t was
stronger in the hearts Of the American people
| tn, IN it ever was. He asserted that Democracy
| ba always been the true friend of labor. Mr.,
| Ke m became energetic on this proposition and
cen sed speaking only after he had denounced
ne w parties as formed merely for temporary is.
| su es, while Democracy went on conquering and
| to conquer in the cause of the people.
| 1t was time to have secretary John Schley
| named H. G. Deck. a knight of Labor and mem
Of Typographical Union No. l. Joseph Wagner
q saloon keeper wanted Thomas Brown, while
another delegate suggested VIM. Rcthert w
F. A. Bernhamer came to the front With the
manner of person upon whom much of the i'm
pcrtance of the young party rested, he moved
that Mr. Deck be made the permanent secretary
| and that the other gentlemen should act as hi
assistants. which was adopted by the conven
| ton.
At this point the full development of the Co!
| control began. The chairman announced tina
| nominations for Mayor we're in order. "W
will call the wards. he complacently remarked
while Coy sat at his elbow coaching him. Tn
First ward had no one to name. but the Secor.
did through Gabriel Schmuck This gentle
man did not appear to have any interest in il
he named DR.. George F. Edenharter for Mayor
! and did it SO quietly and in such a low tone Q
voice that only those within twenty feet of hir
knew what had occurred. Mr.. Schmuck SCENE
Glad to take his seat, and that his part ha
! been performed. The Fourth ward failed I
respond but all the others in orde
seconded the nomination From the Ninth tn
second was made by Sam Dinnir, and for tn
| Twenty second ward delegates. Bernhamer pc,
! / formed that service. After the Twenty fft
ward had spoken in agreement with Coy
wishes, Chairman Kern quickly said: "All il
| favor of the nomination of DR.. George +. Eder
4 harter for Mayor will rise to their feet Ever
| delegate replied with hurrah.
: The nominee, in answer to calls. came FOL
9 | ward and spoke for five minutes After VIVA
Nd n